Living and Working at the Lake

March 28, 2017

Jess Varner at Victoria Day Use Area.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park attendant contractor staff and volunteer park hosts are the lifeblood of the Corps of Engineers parks and campground programs. Their generous assistance makes it possible to accommodate the thousands of people who use parks and campgrounds around the lake each spring, summer and fall. Currently, Allatoona Lake has several positions available for the 2017 recreation season.

The Corps at Allatoona has two types of park staff: paid park attendant contractors and volunteer park hosts.

Park Attendant Contractors In campgrounds, the park attendants are paid contractors, consisting of two couples, who work within that campground until the end of the season. These paid attendants must submit bids for a chosen campground. The contract is usually awarded to the low bidder, who must be bonded. A park attendant team consists of two persons, who must be mentally and physically capable, have excellent customer service skills, and be available to work four days on and four days off, including most weekends and holidays.

Because campgrounds at Allatoona Lake use the National Recreation Reservation System, attendants must be proficient with the computer. Attendants check campers in and out, monitor campground parking and other rules and regulations. All attendants must go through a vigorous week of training each year before the season starts.

Contractor park attendants also work a few of the busiest day-use areas on the lake. Anyone who has ever been to Galt’s Ferry Day Use Area or the Blockhouse Ramp recognize the work and commitment these contractors put in at these overflowing areas. They must meet the same requirements as campground attendants, and oversee traffic control, annual pass sales, shelter reservations and fee compliance.

Volunteer Hosts Volunteer park hosts also work at many of the Corps Day Use Areas, donating 20 hours per week in return for a free site to park their trailers or RVs. You’ll see these volunteers at places such as Cooper’s Furnace, Riverside, Kellogg and Tanyard Day Use Areas.

A Volunteer Park Host Team usually consists of two persons who are mentally and physically capable, have excellent customer service skills, and are available to work four days on, four days off. They operate gatehouses on weekends and holidays for visitor assistance, fee compliance and traffic control. During the week they open and close gates, guard against vandalism and check for fee compliance.

To become a paid park attendant contractor or a volunteer park host, please call the Allatoona Lake Operations Project Management Office at 678-721-6700.

By Christopher Purvis, contributing writer and Lead Ranger at Lake Allatoona over partnerships, volunteers and project security.